Status
Available
Local notes
PB Avi
Collection
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (2005), Edition: Reissue, 176 pages
Description
Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.
Awards
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Nominee — 1998)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 1998)
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Winner — Fiction — 1996)
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (Nominee — 1998)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 1998)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Honor — 1998)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 1998)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 1999)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Children's Fiction — 2000)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 1998)
Sasquatch Book Award (Nominee — 1998)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Youth — 1998)
Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 1999)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1997-1998)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 1999)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Mark Twain Readers Award (Nominee)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — 1998)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 1999)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 1998)
Land Of Enchantment Book Award (Winner — Children's — 1999)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1998)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee — 1999)
Surrey Schools’ Book of the Year (Winner — 1998)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Intermediate — 1996)
Notable Children's Book (1996)
Idaho Battle of the Books (Elementary — 2019)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995
Physical description
176 p.; 5 x 0.5 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member rldougherty
This is a really exciting tale of a young deer mouse who faces the great horned owl, Mr. Ocax. The owl imagines himself the supreme ruler of Dimwood Forest, lording it over the mouse community. They, unfortunately, have outgrown the food supplies of their home and want to move half of their members
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to New House where the fields are supposed to be full of grain. Mr. Ocax refuses to let them move, citing Poppy's failure to obey his directives as his reason. Poppy undertakes a great journey through the dark forest to see if New House is really all that it's said to be, to find out why Mr. Ocax wants to keep the mice out, and to restore her reputation. Poppy learns to judge friends and enemies for herself rather than relying on the opinions of a tyrant. In the end, she discovers that she possesses all the strength and courage she needs to survive and help her community find a new home. Show Less
LibraryThing member pmacsmith
The whole time I am reading this story, I am asking myself, what is this really about.
LibraryThing member laf
There is a mouse named Poppy who has to save his family from a humongous owl who is preventing them from moving to a place where they won't starve from lack of food.
LibraryThing member crawdad90
It was awsome, as are all of Avi's books.
LibraryThing member hortonhears
A wonderful read-aloud that I shared with my 3rd grade class last year. The story line is engaging, the language exquisite and the possibilities for cross-curricular connections is endless.
LibraryThing member jrozean0128
Poppy is a story of a teenage mouse, Poppy, who looses her boyfriend due to a evil owl who ate him. The owl, Mr. Ocax, rules the area around the Dimwood forest and has all of the other mice under his reign. Poppy stands up to the owl and eventually defeats him in retribution for killing her
Mr. Ocax’s rule is an interesting one. He uses disinformation to control his subjects, much like modern day dictators do today, such as in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Kim Jung Ill’s North Korea. Mr Ocax claims that without Mr. Ocax, the mice would be eaten by porcupines. Poppy discovers this mistruth one day when she meets a porcupine who tells her that he only eats bark.
I think this story could be used to cover a science unit on certain animals such as a deer mice, owls and porcupines. I also think the story could be used as a map reading exercise because the book includes a map of Mr. Ocax’s supposed territory. Another thing that I think a teacher could do with this book is for students to think of other situations in social studies lessons where someone defied horrendous odds to overcome a bad situation – such as the civil rights movement, the American civil war, etc . . .
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boyfriend. Poppy is a story of someone who goes against the odds to defeat a great evil.Mr. Ocax’s rule is an interesting one. He uses disinformation to control his subjects, much like modern day dictators do today, such as in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Kim Jung Ill’s North Korea. Mr Ocax claims that without Mr. Ocax, the mice would be eaten by porcupines. Poppy discovers this mistruth one day when she meets a porcupine who tells her that he only eats bark.
I think this story could be used to cover a science unit on certain animals such as a deer mice, owls and porcupines. I also think the story could be used as a map reading exercise because the book includes a map of Mr. Ocax’s supposed territory. Another thing that I think a teacher could do with this book is for students to think of other situations in social studies lessons where someone defied horrendous odds to overcome a bad situation – such as the civil rights movement, the American civil war, etc . . .
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LibraryThing member justinscott66
Beyond the fantasy and adventure of "Poppy," there are great sections that can be used to strengthen science curriculum (food chains), personal loss and character education. I personally enjoyed a part when Poppy decides to carry on the quest because it is the right thing to do when she could
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easily have turned back. Show Less
LibraryThing member Molly2Faith
This is a chapter book about a mouse who has to defend herself and try to get the great owl to let her have a bigger home area. The owl claims to be the only one who can scare off the porcupines. The owl eats the mouse's boyfriend and soon Poppy becomes very angry and eventually finds out the owl
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was bluffing. Great book! Show Less
LibraryThing member DBPeeples
Mr. Ocax was king of them all. Poppy and his family wanted to move to another area to get more food. Mr. Ocax's permission was need for the move and he said no. Poppy finds a way to find more food and the ending of the book tells you all. I enjoyed this book!
LibraryThing member Necampos
This is a cute story about a mouse who wants revenge on the evil "King" Owl, Mr. Ocax. Mr. Ocox ate Poppy's boyfriend and Poppy eventually stands up to Mr. Ocax.
We learn at the end that Mr. Ocax didn't even know what he had been talking about the whole time.
It is good for children to see that
We learn at the end that Mr. Ocax didn't even know what he had been talking about the whole time.
It is good for children to see that
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even a tiny mouse can stand up and make a difference, so they can too. Show Less
LibraryThing member mdkladke
This is a good story about no matter how small you are, you can always defend yourself. Mr. Ocax and Poppy are the main character's. Mr. Ocax ate Poppy's boyfriend and now poppy wants revenge. In the end Poppy succeeds and defeats Mr. Ocax. This is a good book to read to kids about 3rd grade and
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up. I have never read a story by Avi, so this was something new to me but it was a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member hiii123
this book is a sad book because some one dies
LibraryThing member bibliophile26
A family of mice need to move because they do not have enough food; moving will put their lives in peril because of the owl who deems himself the lord of the forest. I had to read this for work (I'm a librarian and coach a book competition team); definitely not a favorite.
LibraryThing member navelos
I read this as a bedtime story to my 8 year old and we really enjoyed it. Poppy is a very likable heroine and the story moves along quickly. The ending did seem a little abrupt though. We would've liked a more drawn out happy ending where Poppy was recognized for her struggles. I'm looking forward
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to reading the next one in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member LAteacher
At the edge of Dimwood Forest, there was an owl called, Mr. Ocax, waiting for predators to catch and eat. Mr. Ocax always lied to the mouse family that he was protecting them. It was actually him, who was eating the mices. Poppy, a little mouse in the family, has to fight for her best to prove that
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Mr. Ocax wasn't protecting them. Show Less
LibraryThing member pgreenley
A great adventure story that has parallels to human oppression and struggles for knowledge and freedom.
LibraryThing member elgood
book summary: Poppy is about a young mouse who lives on the edge of a forest and is protected by Mr. ocax, a mean owl who rules by ensuring everyone's safety. One night, poppy breaks a rule by dancing in the moonlight with her boyfriend and the adventure starts. Poppy's father wants to move to a
content summary: friendship, family, mice, rule
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new house, despite Mr. Ocax secrets, Poppy and her friend set out to find the truth. content summary: friendship, family, mice, rule
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LibraryThing member Omrythea
A charming and delightful story.
LibraryThing member alebarbu
Poppy, a young deer mouse, and her large family are protected by Mr. Ocax, a great horned owl, from the cruel porcupines that would otherwise eat them. In exchange, they have to ask permission of Mr. Ocax to go beyond a certain distance from the abandoned house where they live. After Mr. Ocax
This charming tale’s fantasy elements are the fact that the animals talk, think like humans, and also do some activities like humans (the mice are homeschooled, and take tests). Beyond the fantasy aspect, it is a tale of courage, going beyond widely-held ideas, and using logic, which applies to real life. It is easy to relate to the character of Poppy, who is thinking more clearly than her headstrong father. Some parts are funny, and the language used amusing. Others are scary (for a mouse); yet, others are full of tenderness and poetry. The pencil drawings are really cute, and add to the wonderfulness of the story. Highly recommended for grades 3-6.
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refuses that a part of Poppy’s family move to a new house, Poppy sets out on a dangerous adventure to discover what might be the real motive behind Mr. Ocax’s refusal. Is he really protecting the mice? Poppy has to come face-to-face with the harsh truth, and confront Mr. Ocax by herself. This charming tale’s fantasy elements are the fact that the animals talk, think like humans, and also do some activities like humans (the mice are homeschooled, and take tests). Beyond the fantasy aspect, it is a tale of courage, going beyond widely-held ideas, and using logic, which applies to real life. It is easy to relate to the character of Poppy, who is thinking more clearly than her headstrong father. Some parts are funny, and the language used amusing. Others are scary (for a mouse); yet, others are full of tenderness and poetry. The pencil drawings are really cute, and add to the wonderfulness of the story. Highly recommended for grades 3-6.
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LibraryThing member bunwat
My favorite thing about this book is that my neice gave it to me for Christmas. However, even if it isn't a Christmas present from your neice it is a well written small tale of a brave young mouse.
LibraryThing member Kaitlyn.Johnston
The students in the 3rd grade class I am observing in were reading this book, so I decided to join in. The prospect of talking animals seemed to excite many of the students, and though they were engaged for the beginning of the book, there were parts where the plot slowed down a bit and the student
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interest would start to wane. Regardless most of the students liked the book and they all finished it eventually. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmoncton
One of my favorite children's authors... Poppy is part of a series of books about the mice in Dimwood forest. The book is exciting and has wonderful characters from a brave field mouse named Poppy to a crabby old porcupine named Ereth. This was our family dinner book but it was so good that we read
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it whenever we found time to all sit together. Show Less
LibraryThing member amy.wesen
Personal Response: I absolutely loved this novel! I thought it was richly detailed and was quite humorous throughout the book. It was easy to pick up and read and I actually read it in two days. I thought the illustrations were nicely done and I liked how realistic the drawings were.
Curricular
Curricular
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Connections- The owl Onx was a big negative bully throughout the novel. It would be great to use in upper elementary classes and would provoke good discussion on how and was he was a bully. The literary concept of personification can be addressed as well in that there are countless examples in how the animals acted like humans. Show Less
LibraryThing member nariya.rose
Poppy is a wonderful story about a little mouse named (as you can probably guess) Poppy. She and her huge family live on the edge of Dimwood forest. Dimwood is controlled by a great horned owl called Mr. Ocax. Poppy's family is too big to stay in one spot, so they ask for permission to move to New
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House. But when Mr. Ocax refuses, Poppy must set out on a journey, meet a surprising new character, and discover some shocking things. I really liked the fun storyline and the great illustrations. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy (and/or mice). Even though it is book two in the Poppy Stories, that doesn't really affect your ability to understand it. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Avi is an imaginative author, but he lacks a strong characteristic voice. This tale of a brave young mouse is a little too pat, but the natural history details mix very well with the anthropomorphic bits.
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Pages
176